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Using the State and Area Series Retrieval System


This help document explains how to use the Series Report Tool on the BLS website. Unlike the Create Customized Tables (multiple screens) tool, the Series Report tool allows the user to directly download any State and Area time series by referring to its 18-digit Series ID.

The Series ID variable is what LABSTAT used to find a series on the State and Area database. Unfortunately, each program within BLS has its own Series ID format, so this schematic will only work with State and Area CES data.

Example: SMU191360152300001

The Series ID above is divided into its seven components. Each, incidentally, refers to a separate form in a Create Customized Tables (multiple screens) query.

"SM"

The first two letters in the Series ID refer to the BLS program collecting the data. All data from the State and Area Current Employment Statistics program will start off with the SA designation.

"U"

This refers to a request for unadjusted data (data not seasonally adjusted). The same data series seasonally adjusted would have the Series ID: SMU191360152300001. Please note that the majority of data series will not be seasonally adjusted. Only state employment data series are seasonally adjusted, and those are only seasonally adjusted at the NAICS supersector level of detail. Hours and earnings series, and MSA employment series are not currently seasonally adjusted.

"19"

This refers to the state FIPS code. 19 is the code for Iowa. A complete list is available
here.

"1360"

This refers to the area FIPS code. 1360 is the code for Cedar Rapids. A complete list is available here.

"15230000"

This is the industry series code. The first 2 digits identify the supersector in which the NAICS code is classified. Here are the supersectors. The next six-digits are the NAICS code. 230000 refers to all industries within the Construction sector. A complete table of CES-SM industry codes is located here.

"1"

The last digit is the data type. 1 refers to "All Employment" data. The table of available data types is located here.

So in it's entirety, this particular Series ID above is Construction employment for Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The Series Report tool is very useful for repeatedly downloading many series. Create Customized Tables (multiple screens) generates the Series IDs of all reqested data. The user can copy these IDs to a text file for use in the Series Report Tool. In this way, the user can avoid having to repeatedly go through the seven Create Customized Tables (multiple screens) screens.

 

Last Modified Date: April 28, 2006

 

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